Pitcher Jim Bouton passed away yesterday at the age of 80. Bouton, as many are aware, was the author of Ball Four, a baseball memoir that exposed the behind-the-scenes world of professional baseball. The memoir stirred up no small amount of indignation in the baseball world, and yet is now considered one of the most important sports books ever written.
Bouton passed away at his home in Massachusetts following a long battle with a brain disease called cerebral amyloid angiopathy.
Rest in peace.
I have read Ball Four maybe 20 -25 times- just re-read it a couple months ago. One of my favorite books- [and my most read book} Sad to hear of his passing.
Wow, I have some books that I re-read regularly, but I don’t think any of them have been quite that many times. Impressive.
I like re-reading it when the baseball season is starting–i know it word for word–but still enjoy it.
I met him in 2010 in Burbank, Ca. He was a really nice guy and signed my crappy dog-eared copy of Ball Four. RIP dude.